How to Install Zend Framework

What are Frameworks?

A Framework is a collection of reusable items or steps in a repeatable process. A software application framework is a well-defined Application programming interface (API) that serves as abstraction layers that separate business logic from application logic. Application frameworks usually leverage object-oriented programming techniques to extend the current purpose to serve custom needs. Combining server-side frameworks with client-side frameworks improves development time and reduces cost while supporting the concepts of Rapid Application Development (RAD). A popular framework architectural pattern is Model-View-Controller (MVC). The MVC architectural pattern increases application flexibility and reduces the complexity in architectural design by decoupling models and views.

What is Zend Framework?

The Zend Framework extends the art & spirit of PHP, Zend Framework is based on simplicity, object-oriented best practices, corporate friendly licensing, and a rigorously tested agile codebase. Zend Framework is focused on building more secure, reliable, and modern Web 2.0 applications & web services, and consuming widely available APIs from leading vendors like Google, Amazon, Yahoo!, Flickr, as well as API providers and cataloguers like StrikeIron and ProgrammableWeb.

Installing Zend Framework

Connect to your server with a command line tool like PuTTY, Apple Mac users can simply use a Terminal window. Navigate to a directory that is NOT the Document Root or any directory in the web server’s “include” path. The Zend Framework installation described here will allow the user to change the version of Zend Framework at will by using a symbolic link for the Zend installation files. This method will allow developers to change versions “on-the-fly” without the need for restarting web servers. Learn how to setup a web server at “How to Setup a Virtual Web Server in 10 Minutes“.

#Open a web browser and navigate to http://{replace this with host name}/quickstart

Welcome to the Zend Framework

Open a web browser and navigate to “http://{replace this with real host name}/quickstart” to see the “Welcome to the Zend Framework” message.

Open a web browser and navigate to “http://{replace this with real host name}/quickstart/index/add” to see a simple message from the code that was automatically written from using the Zend Tool in the previous steps.

Software Integration Summary

Improved Security by storing sensitive information such as database user name and password in configuration files outside of document root.

Provided Version Control by using a symbolic link to software package. Software developers not using Subversion can change the version of the software by downloading the required version into a new directory and update the Zend symbolic link to point to the new directory. Software developers using Subversion can manage the software with simple Subversion Commands and Scripts.

Automatic Code Generation by configuring and using Zend Tool to automatically generate code.

Integrated by integrating this software into an existing web server environment, developers can leverage existing IT investments. This server-side framework can also be integrated with a client-side framework to support AJAX and Web 2.0 Technologies across multiple devices. Here are 3 AJAX Frameworks that can support Custom Dashboards on Apple iPads.